Asia Pacific

UN Photo/Martine Perret
UN Photo/Martine Perret

UN welcomes Chinese court decision to overturn death sentence of abuse victim

27 June 2014
The United Nations human rights office today welcomed the news that a Chinese court has recently overturned the death sentence imposed on Li Yan, who killed her abusive husband, Tan Yong, in 2010.
A displaced child in a makeshift camp in the Golan area of Gurbaz district, Khost province.
UNHCR

Amid clashes between Afghan forces, Taliban, UN mission urges civilian protection in Helmand province

26 June 2014
Deeply concerned by the rising number of civilian casualties in ongoing military operations in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA) today urged all parties to take precautions to ensure civilian protection.
Surya P. Subedi, Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Cambodia.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

Cambodia: UN rights expert calls for a widening of democratic space, other reforms

25 June 2014
Having ended his eleventh fact-finding mission, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia today noted progress in key areas, but expressed concern at seeing that the democratic space in the country shrink.
Ján Kubiš, Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), addresses UN Security Council via video conference from Kabul.
Fardin Waezi/UNAMA

Gripped by electoral crisis, Afghanistan needs ‘statesmanship, not brinksmanship’ – UN envoy

25 June 2014
Amidst challenges that are testing Afghanistan’s electoral, institutional and legal frameworks, together with the maturity of its political leaders, the top United Nations official in the country underscored today the vital need for the Afghan political class to act decisively to manage these events and “avoid any slippery slope to civil disorder and instability.”
Former Finnish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, former Governor-General and High Court judge of New Zealand Silvia Cartwright (center) and former President of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission Asma Jahangir (right ).
UN Photos/Stephenie Hollyman, Mark Garten, Jean-Marc Ferre.

Three international experts tapped to assist with UN-mandated Sri Lanka conflict probe

25 June 2014
Three distinguished experts have agreed to advise the United Nations-mandated investigation into alleged human rights violations committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.
Children in North Waziristan, a mountainous region of Pakistan and home to ongoing army operations against militants.
IRIN/Fakhar Kakahel

Pakistani offensive against Taliban militants uproots over 400,000 people – UN agency

24 June 2014
Pakistan’s military offensive against Taliban militants in the north of the country has displaced more than 400,000 people and the number continues to rise, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.
Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Ján Kubiš.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

UN mission strongly condemns attack on Afghan peace council official

21 June 2014
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan strongly condemned Saturday's targeted attack on Masoom Stanekzai, a government minister and the Head of the Secretariat of the country's High Peace Council.
Credit: OHCHR
OHCHR

Myanmar: UN experts alarmed at draft bill imposing restrictions on religious conversion

20 June 2014
A group of independent United Nations human rights experts today called on the Government of Myanmar to do away with a draft bill imposing restrictions on religious conversion, stressing the right of every individual to freely choose or to change their faith.
Civilians begin to flee new offensive against militants in Pakistan.
IRIN/Umar Farooq

Afghan authorities register thousands of refugees fleeing Pakistani clashes – UN

20 June 2014
The United Nations refugee agency is helping authorities in the eastern Afghan province of Khost to register and assist thousands of people fleeing the current Pakistani military offensive against Taliban militants in that country’s tribal regions.
Village shop at dusk in Sri Lanka lit by solar panels.
World Bank/Dominic Sansoni

Asia-Pacific: UN launches Sustainable Energy for All Decade, regional hub

18 June 2014
With an estimated 628 million people in Asia- and the Pacific lacking access to electricity and more than 1.8 billion using natural fuels, the United Nation office in the region launched today the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), underscoring the importance of clean forms of electricity in the post-2015 developing agenda.